Dan Markley named new Executive Director and Producer of The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF)

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) today announced that Dan Markley has been named as the new Executive Director and Producer of the organization, succeeding Isaac Robert Hurwitz, who stepped down to focus on his independent producing and creative consulting business.

As Executive Director and Producer, Dan will be responsible for expanding NYMF’s mission to further the development and accessibility of original musical theatre. He will strengthen existing programs and develop additional programs to expand the reach and impact of NYMF. He will also identify, develop, and implement funding strategies as well as providing artistic oversight and help to inspire the highest quality of shows and special events in the Festival.

“We are thrilled to have someone as talented and experienced as Dan to take the reins of NYMF,” said board chairman Martin Grant. “We met many capable people in the course of our search but Dan has it all. He has worked in both commercial theater and the non-profit world and he has led organizations and has a vision of where he thinks we should be going. We feel fortunate to have him.”

"I'm very grateful for the opportunity that has been created by the vision and extraordinary commitment of Isaac, the board and staff over the past decade,” added Dan Markley. “The development of new musicals will always be equal parts thrilling and challenging. I'm excited to lead this institution as we continue to explore new ways to support the creative and performing artists bringing new works to life.

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Dan Markley (Executive Director and Producer) Shortly after graduating from Florida State University, Dan embarked on an arts management career that has included an eclectic spectrum of experiences. His brief career as an actor in Washington, DC resulted in his co-founding the non-profit So Far Theatre Company. Dan also spent many years in Washington as senior producer with the USO, traveling the world with stars including Bob Hope, Randy Travis and Pearl Bailey.

In 1990 Dan followed his wife, Alison Sheehy, to New York, where he began producing plays, starting as an associate producer of David Mamet’s Oleanna. He would later co-produce other Off Broadway shows including Stomp, The Vagina Monologues and Shockheaded Peter. On Broadway his credits include Damn Yankees, High Fidelity, On the Waterfront and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas.

In 2001 Dan was part of a group that developed 37 Arts, bringing three new theatres and the Baryshnikov Arts Center to Manhattan’s Far West Side. In 2008 the theatres were converted to expand Baryshnikov Arts Center and to create the Orchestra of St. Luke’s DiMenna Center for Classical Music. In early 2012, Dan became a management and programming consultant to the Nantucket Dreamland Foundation to assist in launching its non-profit Dreamland Film and Performing Arts Center, which now hosts Nantucket’s Film, Comedy, and Book festivals.

Dan and Alison, now a portrait photographer, have three children and live in Hastings on Hudson, NY.